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Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development
Annual Report
2009
Contents
General information
Organisational development 2009
Program priorities
Projects
Attachment: CIPDD projects and activities in 2009
Address: 72 Akaky Tsereteli Av., II floor; Tbilisi 0154, Georgia
P.Box 101, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia
Tel: (995 32) 355 154
Fax: (995 32) 355 754
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cipdd.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) was founded in
August 1992 in Tbilisi, Georgia, as a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation.
CIPDD is a public policy think-tank – not linked to any political party – mainly active in
Georgia. However, it is also involved in regional cooperative projects with the countries of
South Caucasus, Black Sea and Balkan regions. CIPDD often works in partnership and
coalition with other civil sector organisations, be they Georgian or foreign. On the other hand,
CIPDD often cooperates with the Georgian government, political parties and international
organisations. CIPDD is not neutral with regards to political values: if there is a need, it takes
part in civic initiatives in support of liberal democracy. In such cases, CIPDD usually enters
coalitions with like-minded organisations and individuals.
MISSION STATEMENT
We want democracy to be a process whereby citizens take responsibility for their political
institutions rather than a new dogmatic ideology that the avant-garde of the society imposes
upon their “backward” brethren. The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and
Development is a catalyst of public discussion: We gain knowledge on public problems,
propose to the citizens their analysis, assessment and options for the solution, and broaden the
circle of people who is willing and capable to debate public issues.
Major activities of CIPDD include conducting public policy research, publishing and
disseminating its results, and organising different forms of debate – professional, political or
public – around this work. In addition, CIPDD is involved in advocacy efforts, including
public advocacy and lobbying, and training related to its work.
Ghia Nodia, the CIPDD chairman, provides general guidance of CIPDD activities. The sixstrong administrative staff is managed by the executive director, Avtandil Jokhadze. CIPDD’s
program activities are coordinated by the internal executive board, which includes the
chairman, executive director and project coordinators.
CIPDD’s work is strategically guided and supervised by the external board made up of seven
members:
- Ia Antadze
- Marat Baratashvili
- Olesya Vartanian
- Ghia Nodia
- Charles H. Fairbanks
- Emzar Jgerenaia (Chairman)
- Emilia Khalilova
FINANCES
CIPDD relies on sponsorship of donor organisations, and enthusiasm and responsibility of its
staff, partners and colleagues. Only a small portion of its funds comes from other sources,
such as, for instance, incomes generated by the sale of CIPDD publications (most of these
publications are distributed for free). The CIPDD Budget 2009 totalled the equivalent of
74,300 USD.
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2009
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
CIPDD gave priority to three main research areas in 2009: public policy research, democratic
institutions, and civil integration. Throughout the year its activities included contribution to
the secondary education reform, training on standard mechanisms of public policy
development, functional analysis of political institutions, facilitation of civil participation
among ethnic and religious minorities, creation of and support for independent regional media
networks, media monitoring, etc.
DONORS
CIPDD projects were funded by the following donors in 2009:
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
- OSI Think Tank Fund - Budapest
- Open Society Institute (OSI)
- Open Society – Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
- European Commission (EC)
- Office of High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE
- Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany)
- Black Sea Trust of the German Marshall Fund
- Council of Europe (CoE)
To implement its strategic priorities more efficiently, CIPDD set up three program divisions in
2009:
1. Support for Democratic Institutions and Processes (research areas: mass media, political
parties, civil society, and local self-government)
2. Civil Integration (research areas: conflicts, protection of minority rights, support for
cultural diversity, religion, and education)
3. European Integration
Heads of program divisions are responsible for preparing action plans, project proposals, and
fund raising. Other CIPDD staff also take part in planning/implementing its projects. Special
emphasis is laid on publication/distribution of research results and advocacy efforts.
PROJECTS
CIVICUS – Civil Society Research in Georgia
The overall goal of the project, funded by Open Society – Georgia Foundation, is to create
active and effective national and international platforms for knowledge-based actions for the
strengthening of civil society. As part of the project CIPDD carried out a research, which
resulted in the creation of Civil Society Index, a tool which enables to assess the current state
of the Georgian civil society and formulate a comprehensive strategy for the development of
this sector. The research was based on a methodology developed by CIVICUS (World
Alliance for Citizen Participation – www.civicus.org) and covered the following dimensions
of civil society: civic engagement, level of organisation, practice of values, perceived impact,
and external environment. In 2009 research activities aimed to gauge the strength of civil
society organisations and find out how they are viewed by wider society. To this end CIPDD
organised ten focus-groups discussions in Tbilisi and different regions, and carried out four
case studies: attitude of the business community to non-governmental organisations and
corporate responsibility; the level of organisational development of regional NGOs (the case
of Akhaltsikhe-based civil society organisations), accountability in Georgia’s civil society
organisations – forms and processes, motivation of the young members of political parties.
Based on the research outcomes, CIPDD will produce a research report and a policy brief. A
12-member Advisory Committee, made up of civil society representatives, was set up to
oversee the project. It will take part in the preparation of recommendations for the
development of civil society in Georgia and assist in the publication/distribution of the
research report and policy brief, which will be available in Georgian and English. A
conference is planned at the end of the project.
Nation wide CSO network
The project is supported by German Marshal Fund – Black Sea Trust, and aims to increase
policy analyses capacity and advocacy skills of local communities, advance understanding of
legal framework of civil participation, foster communication and cooperation between local
civil society representatives and local authorities on regional development issues, and
encourage partnership relations between CSOs from different regions and exchange of best
practices among them. Ten regional CSOs of Georgia were selected, on contest basis, for the
project. Their representatives received training in various areas of policy analysis (theoretical
knowledge, research, report writing skills, data summary/analysis, and cooperation with local
self-governments). As a result of the project, beneficiaries – young NGO activists from Tbilisi
and different regions – have gained sufficient knowledge of regional problems, acquired
analysis and advocacy skills, and enhanced their ability to cooperate with local selfgovernments and assume responsibility for dealing with social problems.
Political institutions in Georgia
The project began in 2005 and continued throughout 2009 with financial assistance provided
by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) through Netherlands
Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). In 2009 the project was focused on the ways to
ensure involvement of political parties in constitutional reforms and help them analyse and
assess the constitutional amendments. The project implies cooperation and interaction with all
major political parties of Georgia and aims to analyse their attitude towards ongoing
constitutional reforms and identify the problems that the parties consider most urgent. The
project results will be made available to the constitutional commission.
Improving environment for minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms
in the school education system
The project is funded by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany), and aims at
improving conditions for minority involvement in Georgia through support of reforms in the
public school system. The overall goal is to ensure adequate participation of the citizens of
Georgia in public life and protection of their civil and political rights regardless of their ethnic
and religious backgrounds.
In 2009 the project activities included training workshops for teachers of public schools,
which were designed to improve their skills and capacity to promote tolerance and respect for
ethnic and religious diversity. Special training modules were also prepared in the framework
of the project to increase efficiency of school boards. Some project activities aimed at
engaging various ethnic and religious communities in public life. A new training module was
worked out to teach how to respect and accept cultural diversity. Trainers were selected in
different regions of the country and trained, and the first round of training workshops was
completed.
The selection contest for the authors of the textbook on the history of religions ended in
February 2009 with two winners – David Tinikashvili and Zurab Jashi. Besides, an advisory
board was established to provide general advice and oversight. It is made up of philosophers,
historians, theologians and education experts.
In the framework of the project CIPDD launched a contest for the best methodology to
organise and celebrate a Cultural Diversity Day in school. On the basis of the winner project
CIPDD prepared a guide for teachers and school administrations to help them arrange and
carry out various educational activities on Cultural Diversity Day and designed a respective
poster.
A new training methodology – Capacity Building of School Administrations and School
Boards – was also created in 2009. Regional trainers were selected on contest basis and the
winners received training in Tbilisi. Apart from increasing capacities of regional NGOs, this
component of the project has enabled to provide regional-level training in minority languages,
i.e. in Armenian and Azeri. At the initial stage local trainers were under guidance and
oversight of CIPDD staff. At the next stages they worked independently.
Independent media for civil integration
In the framework of the project, funded by the delegation of EU commission to Georgia,
CIPDD continued to work towards the main objectives of the project in cooperation with its
partners – Civil Integration Foundation (Georgia), Research Centre, REGION (Armenia), and
the Committee for Protection of Journalists of Azerbaijan (RUH) (Azerbaijan). In 2009 the
project activities focused on steps to facilitate civil integration of the non-Georgian
populations in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions, including the development of
efficient local community media. In particular, CIPDD provided technical assistance and
training for the journalists of the above-mentioned regions. They were also given access to the
Caucasus Journalists Network as a source of valuable information. The expected results of the
project are:
- Enhanced outreach of (and coverage by) the media in the South Caucasus
the target districts in Georgia
- Improved professional capacity of journalists in the target districts
- Improved infrastructure and capacity of the Caucasus Journalists Network
countries to
To achieve these results, internet-clubs (media centres) were set up in target municipalities
(Marneuli, Gardabani, Akhalkalaki, and Akhaltsikhe) and local journalists were interviewed
about what problems they faced and what assistance they needed to improve their professional
skills and qualification. The journalists were also invited to provide opinions on how to
develop and enhance cooperation between local and central newspapers. Two training
programs were produced on the basis of the interviews: in effective communication, which
included such topics as active listening and obstacles to communication, and in news
reporting. The training provided a useful opportunity to discuss specific cases based on ideas
of the journalists themselves about the problems that local journalists face nowadays in the
regions. Training workshops on news reporting were conducted in Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki,
and Marneuli. The training in effective communication was carried out in Marneuli and
Akhaltsikhe. In addition, CIPDD organised a special training seminar on occasion of
International Human Rights Day.
Other project activities included four on-line discussions (4-6 days each) on regional (South
Caucasus) and national problems at the website of the Caucasus Journalists Network –
www.caucasusjournalists.net – with participation of journalists from the target regions and
invited experts.
The next stage of training for the journalists of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli began
in October 2009. The training topics included project management, strategic planning,
organisational development, and practical application of innovative approaches (training
materials are available at http://www.caucasusjournalists.net/article.asp?idarticle.;
interviews with ten invited experts are also published at the website).
An independent organisation – Foundation for the Development and Mutual Assistance of
Regional Media – was established at the end of the project. The Foundation offers its members
financial assistance – grants for small-scale projects – and advice (mutual consultations) to
strengthen their financial sustainability.
Conflicts: monitoring and analysis
In 2009 CIPDD continued the project “Research and analysis of the situation in the region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti”. The project began in 2000 and has been financed by the Office of High
Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE, all along. In the framework of the project,
CIPDD prepares monthly reports in Russian and English on political, economic, sociocultural, and institutional indicators in the region, on the basis of monthly reports from local
correspondents and reviews of the Georgian media coverage of the problems of SamtskheJavakheti.
In 2009 CIPDD launched a new project, titled “Development of an early warning system in
conflict-affected Shida Kartli region of Georgia”, in cooperation with Pro NGO! e.V.
(Germany) and with financial assistance of the European Commission. The overall objective
of the project is to contribute to the peace building process and stability in Georgia in general,
and the region in particular. Specific objectives include:
1. Establishing a mechanism for revealing conflict potential developments in the conflict
affected region Shida Kartli adjacent to South Ossetia through setting up an early warning
system
2. Engaging civil society actively in discussions concerning conflict prevention, peace
building and crisis management
3. Strengthening the capacity of EU's relevant institutions for conflict prevention and crisis
response with regard to Georgia
4. Fostering partnership between the EU and local civil sector in the field of crisis
management and peace building.
In the framework of the project the situation in the region is constantly monitored and
analysed, and the analysis results are made available to all stakeholders (the government,
Georgian NGOs, and international organisations, especially European structures, such as
EUMM – European Union Monitoring Mission – and European Commission). Besides, the
project provides for information sharing and networking among organisations involved in
dealing with IDP problems.
At the initial stage six local correspondents were selected and tasked with preparing monthly
reports on the latest developments in the region. On the basis of their reports and Georgian
media materials about the situation in Kvemo Kartli CIPDD researchers produce monthly
analytical reports about major political, economic, social and institutional indicators. The
reports are regularly published at the CIPDD website. Quarterly round-table discussions are
another main component of the project.
At the end of 2009 CIPDD began another new project – “Promoting a broad and informed
dialogue on the problems of peace, security and conflicts in Georgia”. The project is funded by
the European Commission and implemented in cooperation with Georgian Young Lawyers’
Association (GYLA) and Saferworld (UK). The main objectives of the project are to facilitate
the development of civil society in Georgia and improve analytical skills of the Georgian civil
society organisations in the fields of peace, security and conflict-settlement.
In the framework of the project, four regional forums, meaning dialogue between local civil
sector groups, will be set up in Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samegrelo, and SamtskheJavakheti regions of Georgia. The project is designed to enhance the capacity of the participant
organisations to analyse conflict-related problems, prioritise peace initiatives, and prepare
recommendations for decision-makers. The project will result in the creation of a policy
document on region-specific problems. CIPDD has already arranged first meetings with
representatives of the local civil societies in the four target regions and provided them with
assistance and advice.
CONFERENCES. PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS
The conference “Intercultural and interreligious education for promoting tolerance” was held
in Tbilisi on July 4-5, 2009, in the framework of the project “Improving environment for
minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms in the school education system”.
The conference was sponsored by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany) and
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung / KAS (Germany). The agenda of the conference covered the
following themes: cultural diversity, tolerance, intercultural education and its importance for
Georgia, intercultural and interreligious education and the problem of convergence and
originality, German and Georgian experience of bilingual education in school in light of these
problems. Invited foreign experts – Prof. Hans-George Zieberts and Prof. Martin Schwaitser –
elaborated on the European experience of religious education, and focused on key problems of
intercultural and interreligious education.
Another international conference, also funded by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung / KAS
(Germany), took place on December 22. It was attended by experts from Bulgaria, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, and Armenia, who spoke at length about their countries’ historical experience of
intercultural dialogue and current problems.
CIPDD also organised a lot of public discussions in 2009 on various social and political issues
and published different policy papers (in Georgian and English) with financial support of US
State Department’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program and OSI Think Tank Fund
(Budapest):
1. Problems of media pluralism in Georgia
2. Administrative Structure of Local Self-Government: Civil Sector Perspective
3. Forestry Sector Reform in Georgia
4. How Much Has the World Changed? Implications for Georgia’s Policies
5. Javakheti One Year After the August War
6. The Quality Assurance System in Georgian Schools
7. Shida Kartli after the August 2008 War: Challenges and Solutions
8. Pending Normalisation of Turkish-Armenian Relations: Implications for Georgia
9. The EU’s Eastern Partnership: Civil Society Expectations and New Opportunities
Materials of the discussions – audio records, transcripts, photos, podcasts – are available at the
CIPDD website, www.cipdd.org
Every interested individual can freely post his or her comments on any discussed issue in
respective blogs at www.cipdd.org
PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
CIPDD implemented joint projects with the following organisations in 2009:
- Civil Integration Foundation (Georgia)
- Research Centre “Region” of the Association of Investigative Journalists (Armenia)
- Committee for Protection of Journalists of Azerbaijan
- Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD)
- Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations (Moscow)
- Ilia Chavchavadze State University
- Saferworld
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
- Pro NGO!
PUBLICATIONS
The EU’s Eastern Partnership: Civil Society Expectations and New Opportunities
Policy Review
by Tamara Pataraia
February 2010
Podcast
Pending Normalisation of Turkish-Armenian Relations: Implications for Georgia
Policy Review
by Ghia Nodia
January 2010
Podcast
Civil Society in the Georgian Regions
Collected articles
2009
Shida Kartli after the August 2008 War: Challenges and Solutions
Policy Review
by Erekle Urushadze
December 2009
Podcast
The Quality Assurance System in Georgian Schools
Policy Review
by Simon Janashia
November 2009
Podcast
Javakheti One Year After the August War
Policy Review
by Archil Abashidze
October 2009
Podcast
How Much Has the World Changed? Implications for Georgia’s Policies
Policy Review
by Ghia Nodia
April 2009
Podcast
Forestry Sector Reform in Georgia
Policy Review
by Irakli Macharashvili
March 2009
Administrative Structure of Local Self-Government: Civil Sector Perspective
Policy Review
by David Losaberidze
March 2009
Problems of media pluralism in Georgia
Policy Review
by Malkhaz Saldadze
March 2009
ATTACHEMENT
The following projects were implemented by CIPDD in 2009:
CIVICUS – Civil society research in Georgia
Donor: Open Society – Georgia Foundation
Duration: 01.10.2008-31.03.2010
Budget: $32,000
Project coordinator: Tiko Tqeshelashvili
Objective: Creation of active and effective national and international platforms for knowledgebased actions for the strengthening of civil society. The project covers the following
dimensions of civil society: civic engagement, level of organisation, practice of values,
perceived impact, and external environment.
Nation wide CSO network
Donor: German Marshal Fund – Black Sea Trust
Duration: 01.07.2009-31.01.2010
Budget: $24,714
Project coordinator: Elene Nodia
Objective: The project aims to increase policy analyses capacity and advocacy skills of local
communities, advance understanding of legal framework of civil participation, foster
communication and cooperation between local civil society representatives and local
authorities on regional development issues, and encourage partnership relations between CSOs
from different regions and exchange of best practices among them.
Improving environment for minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms
in the school education system
Donor: Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany)
Duration: 01.01.2008-31.12.2010
Budget: 370,000 EURO
Project coordinator: Sophie Zviadadze
Objective: The project is designed to improve conditions for minority involvement in Georgia
through support of reforms in the public school system. The overall goal is to ensure adequate
participation of the citizens of Georgia in public life and protection of their civil and political
rights regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Independent media for civil integration
Donor: Delegation of EU Commission to Georgia
Duration: 2007-2010
Budget: 479,576 EURO
Project coordinator: Tamara Pataraia
Objective: Assistance and support for independent media in Kvemo-Kartli and SamtskheJavakheti regions of Georgia.
Political institutions in Georgia
Donor: The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) through
Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy NIMD
Duration: 01.09 – 31.12.2009
Budget: 2,500 EURO
Project coordinator: Ghia Nodia
Objective: Promotion of an inter-party dialogue in Georgia
The Georgian-Russian analytical website www.pankisi.info
Donor: Open Society Georgia - Foundation (OSGF)
Duration: 01.01 - 03.06.2009
Budget: $14,457
Project coordinator: Tamara Shamil
Partner: Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations
Objective: Creation of a valuable source and freely accessible database of high-quality
information about the Georgian-Russian relationship.
Research and analysis of the situation in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti
Donor: OSCE High Commissioner of National Minorities
Duration: 01.04.2009 – 31.12.2009
Budget: 30,128 EURO
Project coordinator: Marina Elbakidze
Objective: to monitor indicators of tensions and conflict potential in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, provide the office of the High Commissioner and the Government of
Georgia with ‘first hand’ information from a potential conflict zone, and facilitate early
warning and response, should this became necessary.
Institutional Support 2009/2010
Donor: Open Society Institute Think Tank Fund
Duration: 01.02.2009-31.01.2010
Budget: $80,000
Project coordinator: Tina Tqeshelashvili
Objective: to ensure sustainable organisational development of CIPDD and contribute to
democratic transition in Georgia.
Development of early warning system in conflict affected Shida Kartli region of Georgia
Donor: European Commission
Duration: 1.09.2009 - 31.08.2010
Budget: 39,995 EURO
Project coordinator: Marina Elbakidze
Objective: to monitor and analyse ongoing processes and indicators of tensions in Shida Kartli
region of Georgia
CIPDD EVENTS IN 2009
Quality assurance system in general education
Date: 11 November, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: CIPDD conference hall
Training: Introduction to the Project Writing
Date: 2-4 October, 2009
Type of event: Training
Venue: Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli
Strategic Planning
Date: 2-4 October, 2009
Type of event: Training
Venue: Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli
Assessment of reform in education system. The reform of the Georgian national
education system and non-Georgian schools
Date: 1 June 2009
Type of event: Presentation
Venue: CIPDD
Samtskhe-Javakheti after August 2008
Date: June 15, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: CIPDD
International School for Caucasus Studies
Date: April 3, 2009
Type of event: Presentation
Venue: Ilia Chavchavadze State University
The changing world and Georgia
Date: March 30, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: Ilia Chavchavadze State University
CIPDD strategy planning meeting
Date: March 21-22, 2009
Type of event: Working meeting
Venue: Bazaleti Lake Hotel
CIVICUS CSI: 1st AC meeting
Date: February 7-8, 2009
Type of event: Working meeting
Venue: Bazaleti Lake Hotel
Workshop for editors of the regional newspapers
Date: January 23, 2009
Type of event: Workshop
Venue: CIPDD